From Gary... THE NIGHT OF THE... IMPOSSIBLE

THE NIGHT OF THE...

IMPOSSIBLE 

 Bible Reading Judges 7:19-25

Introduction:

A. Guessing game Wednesday: Bannana 

   Splits's song.

B. Good grief Commander Mcbrag----

   CUSTER

C. Gideon's great victory over the 

   Midianites----IMPOSSIBLE!!!!

BODY:

A:VICTORY THROUGH GIDEON - JUDGES 6-7

1. A man plagued with doubts and fears

   a.Israel's situation 6:13

   b.Doubted himself 6:15; 7:9-11

   c.Demanded a sign 17-21;36-40

   d.Doubted GOD 13,15

2. A man who responed to God

   a. Recognized God 6:22

   b. Responded with worship 6:24;7:15

   c. Reacted to God 6:25-27

   d. Refused kingship later on!!! 

      HUMILITY-- In us?

B:VICTORY THROUGH COURAGE - JUDGES 7

1. Delivered Israel in spite of odds 

   7:12

2. Directed confidence (courage) led to 

   planning

   a. Division of companies

   b. Directed an attack at night.

   c. Dumbfounded enemies with tricks.

3. Directed by GOD

C:VICTORY THROUGH GOD

1. God sought out Gideon to use him---- 

   -us???

2. God encouraged and directed 

   Gideon!!!--us???

3. God showed his power 6:21;

   6:36-40 ; 7:13-14

4. God's assurance--IMMANUEL-- = 

   CONFIDENCE

CONCLUSION

A. Gideon proves that GOD not numbers 

   or human power yields victory.

B. GOD makes the impossible ---

   POSSIBLE---

From Gary V. Womack...GOD AMONG THE NATIONS

GOD AMONG THE NATIONS

If I asked you what you were doing 6 weeks ago at 9:15 AM - would you know?

Remember where you were and what you were doing at 8:45, Sept. 11, 2001?

8:45 - North tower of world trade center hit

9:05 - South tower hit About an hour after the first tower was hit, both towers collapse

9:40 - Pentagon hit

We thought we were not vulnerable - but found out otherwise

A SIMILAR EXAMPLE

Oct. 29, 539 BC - On this night, "...all the Babylonians drank and reveled the whole night."

(Xenophon, VII.5.15) as they celebrated in a drunken festival.

Babylon - "The golden city" - "The glory of kingdoms" - as Jeremiah put it, "The

praise of the whole earth." (Jer. 51:41)

Also thought they were not vulnerable:

Hanging gardens - one of the 7 wonders of the world.  260 ft. wide mote  Walls 75 ft. thick and 300 ft. tall.

Jer. 51:3-40 God would punish Babylon for its 

                    wickedness against His people. - 

                    Foretold 90 yrs. before the event.

Isa. 45:1-4 Even before Jeremiah - During the 

                 Assyrian empire 90 yrs before 

                 Babylonian empire Isaiah foretold this 

                 event 160 yrs prior to the event. 

                 Names king Cyrus by name.

On this night, the king's general, Gobryas, stationed soldiers outside both ends of the city where the Euphrates river entered and exited under the walls of the city, while the waters were being diverted into a huge 40 sq. mile, 35 ft. deep marsh to the west of the city.

Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, declaring God's power:

Dan. 2:20-22 "Blessed be the name of God forever 

                     and ever, for wisdom and might are 

                     His. (21) And He changes the times 

                     and the seasons; He removes kings 

                     and raises up kings; He gives wisdom 

                     to the wise and knowledge to those 

                     who have understanding. (22) He 

                     reveals deep and secret things; He 

                     knows what is in the darkness, and 

                     light dwells with Him."

ALL OF THIS WAS FORETOLD BEFORE JUDAH WAS TAKEN INTO BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY.

Jer. 19:1-ff Jeremiah foretold Jerusalem's doom 

                  before the Babylonian Empire

HABAKKUK'S DESPAIR AFTER BABYLON'S ATTACK

Hab. 1:1-13 God's justice uses the wicked to 

                   admonish His own people.

THE LESSON WE ARE TO LEARN. - What can I do? Be good citizens:

Prov. 14:34 "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin 

                    is a reproach to any people."

Rom. 13:1-7 The powers that be are ordained of 

                    God - honor them.

Mt. 22:15-22 Pay your rightful taxes.

1 Pet. 2:13-17 Submit to govt. authorities.

INVITATION

Jn. 14:1-6 Jesus went to prepare us a place in 

                 His Father's kingdom Christ is the 

                 way.

Mt. 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is 

                   the gate and broad is the way that 

                   leads to destruction, and there are 

                   many who go in by it. (14) Because 

                   narrow is the gate and difficult is the 

                  way which leads to life, and there are 

                  few who find it."